Ford Scorpio Forum - Print Page


    
      
        Ford Scorpio Forum
        (https://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl)
      

        General >> Give/Need advice to/from others >> Battery drain
        
(Message started by: Bobbit on Jan 14^th, 2016, 10:49am)

Title: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 14^th, 2016, 10:49am

Hi Guys, Got a problem with my 2.3, If I leave the car overnight the battery is completely dead, if I disconnect the battery before leaving , after refitting in the morning it starts first time.
Obviously there is something draining battery, how do check for this with a electrics tester, I am not sure what setting to put the meter on, or how and where to check the wiring,
Cheers Bob ???

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Scorpio_Mike on Jan 14^th, 2016, 1:13pm

Assume you have the battery cover in place and have checked the fuse boxes for water ingress ?
The other favourites seem to be the ashtray or glovebox light staying on.
Simmo has also recently had problems with the radiator fans coming on and draining the battery.

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by PJDavis on Jan 14^th, 2016, 2:22pm

I'd go for the glovebox first, that was my problem a few years ago. Difficult to check if the light is staying on, like a fridge!! :D

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Tompion on Jan 14^th, 2016, 3:39pm

The way to test the sensitivity of the glovebox switch is to hold in the rear window heater switch whilst you turn on the ignition, release the heater switch, you’ll get 3 bongs – you’ll now get a sound if you open a door or the glovebox, if you get a sound without opening anything suspect the glovebox light is on.

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Jan 14^th, 2016, 3:56pm

Dave....You never fail to amaze me!! ;D

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 14^th, 2016, 5:31pm

Thanks for all the info guys, you never cease to amaze me with your knowledge,
I will check it out tomorrow as it is raining cats and dogs here today.
Will let you know.
Bob

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by GrahamT on Jan 15^th, 2016, 12:19am

Or find a small child and...... no no no, don't put the child in the glovebox, let me finish!
Pinch their phone for a minute... ok don't pinch it, borrow it cos you'll need to ask them how to drive it anyway... set the phone recording video ( they do that nowadays, some you can even make phone calls on!)
Put the phone in the glovebox, camera lens facing upwards then close and open the glovebox a few times.
Take the phone out and ask small child to replay the video you just made (this does not mean you can now go around calling yourself Spielberg... ok Hitchco ck, now mind you). You should now know if the light goes off!! Pat small child on the head and thank with a reward. A couple of jelly babies probably won't impress.
Simples ;D

(I found out my fridge light does actually go out every time I shut the fridge door too! Get a cold ear every time I make a phone call now though) :-/

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Nunnspoet on Jan 15^th, 2016, 5:58pm

Unbelievable!! ;D

All I can say is "Own a Scorpio and be amazed by just how ingenious you become."

Mike ::)

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 16^th, 2016, 6:17pm

hi guys,
Just thought I would give you an update on this, put jump leads on to start it and heard like a hisssing noise coming from the left side of the engine bay, then a few wisps of smoke from the small black wire below the multiplug with the bolt on top. (this was without the ignition turned on). Hello I thought this could be where the battery drain is coming from, on feeling the small black loom it was hot and burnt my finger.
I did not have time to do anything today, so will have a good look tomorrow.
Does anyone know where this black wire loom goes to.
Cheers Bob
???

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Tompion on Jan 16^th, 2016, 7:53pm

I couldn’t see an individual wire on mine just the bundle of wires below the connector. There are 2 multiplugs with a bolt (or at least there are on my auto). The one that sits slightly higher is the connection for the ignition loom to the coilpacks etc. the other I believe is the autobox loom. I can't say off hand where the bundle of wires beneath the sockets go.

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 17^th, 2016, 9:20am

Hi Tompion,
Thanks for that, mine is a manuel gearbox so only one box.
The wiring for that is ok , but there is this black loom running along the chassis rail, it is this that I think is shorting even with no ignition turned on ???
Cheers
Bob

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 17^th, 2016, 2:15pm

Hi Guys,
What a mess, went to have a look at loom this morning (a xxxxx to get to) when I unwrapped it , oh! look no insulation the loom is completely shot , it is the one that goes to the abs gubbins under bonnet.
Can you still get these or has anyone got one for sale.
What are they like to fit?I will put an ad in wanted as well.
Cheers
Bob ???

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Jan 17^th, 2016, 2:50pm

Bob. I thought This post (http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/23looms.htm) may help? :(

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 17^th, 2016, 4:33pm

Hi Simmo Thanks for that,
That drawing does not show the loom in question, it is the one that runs along the chassis on the left side of the engine bay, and runs up to the abs pump, i have had a look but cannot find a wiring diagram for it.

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Jan 17^th, 2016, 8:46pm

Bob, try these (https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=EB36F845EA9B8FB6&id=EB36F845EA9B8FB6%21146) diagrams from Snoopy's site. :)

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Tompion on Jan 17^th, 2016, 10:31pm

Bob

There's a post about rewiring it here:
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=admin;action=display;num=1358685207

With your request for a loom don't forget there are 3 types, TC or non-TC with the bolt on connector to the ABS.

Non-TC with the clip on connector (mounted at the front of the wing) - never seen a TC version of this type.

Click on the links at the bottom of my posts to see the layout of the 2 plug types.

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 18^th, 2016, 9:50am

Simmo /Bob
Thanks for all the info, the diagrams are an invaluable source of knowledge.
Bob your article has saved our car and our lives, as we live out in the sticks in Normandy France we are stuck without transport.
Your article and pictures just look like the state my loom is in, how it did not catch fire I do not know.
Could you tell me what size wire you used and is it all the same colour.?
It is going to take me a while to do this as the car is outside, snow here at the moment, but I will keep you informed.
This site and you guys are a mine of information and greatly appreciated.
Bob

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Tompion on Jan 18^th, 2016, 2:07pm

Bob

I don’t know what wire ro284 (Bob) used. The diagrams show it as .75 & 2.5.
If I were doing it I’d consider using trailer cable, although the 12 core I looked at on ebay is .65 & 2.5. It would take more than one so I’d shrink pieces of shrink sleeving onto duplicate colours & keep careful notes of colour changes as I went along.

Take a look here for cable etc:
http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/

Dave

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Jan 18^th, 2016, 2:12pm

Bob, I think you will find that the wire sizes are indicated on the wiring diagrams BUT newer wires are capable of carrying more current and are thinner. The people at This firm (http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/) are very experienced and will help all they can. ;)
The other firm you might need is Here (http://www.heatshrink-online.co.uk/). The guy there is also a great help. You will see that Bob mentions using this stuff in his post. The clear tubing can be slipped over cable thus enabling you to see the original colouring. You should be aware that the 'ready glued' clear tubing will go opaque once heated as the glue runs so I'd avoid that.
Bob no longer has a Scorp but I have his telephone number and will try and contact him to see if he will look at your post.
Good luck. If you take any photos etc or want to add the Bob's article let us know and we can 'unlock' the post to allow an update. ;)

UPDATE. You will see that Dave's posted while I was doing mine!! ;D

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 19^th, 2016, 10:00am

Simmo/Dave,
Thanks for the links to the various firms, that's a great help, diagram shows wire sizes, is the new thin wall wire ok for this job?
Thanks again guys, will keep you informed,
Bob

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Jan 19^th, 2016, 10:41am

Bob,I have spoken to VWP and the guy tells me that you can go down in size from .75 to .5 BUT he would suggest going up to 1.0 as the size difference is minute. The .5 cable carries 11amps whilst the 1mm carries 16amp. No doubt Tompion can advise on that aspect which is right over my head! ;D Similarly with the 2.5 you can go down to 2 or up to 3. On that size IF you are wanting to try and colour match there is a much greater range in the 2mm.
Hope that helps. ;)
I have tried to contact the other Bob but can get no reply at present. ???

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Tompion on Jan 19^th, 2016, 1:01pm

on 01/19/16 at 10:41:29, Simmo wrote:

No doubt Tompion can advise on that aspect which is right over my head! ;D

I don't retain all this guff - just look it up ;)

One would imagine the actual draw will be somewhat lower than the fuse rating.
Fuse 27 uses a 10 amp fuse (and also powers the Air bag) so either size should be OK
Fuses 46 & 47 are 30amp – I’d stick to 2.5 (and for their earths) colour matching doesn’t strike me as that important as being obviously thicker you only have 2 to worry about.

There’s some general info here & a calculator but without knowing the actual draw ………
http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/cable-sizing-selection.html

Dave

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Glyn on Jan 19^th, 2016, 4:34pm

Don't forget "what will carry a lot will carry a bit, but the reverse is not always true".
Glyn

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Jan 20^th, 2016, 10:08am

Hi guys ,
I Have ordered all the gear I will need to fix this, thanks for all the links to shops, great help.
And thanks for all the advice from all,
As soon as bits arrive I will keep you updated as to how it is going.
Cheers
Bob

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Jan 20^th, 2016, 1:11pm

Bob good luck with the project.
If you can take some pictures they are always a great help and even if you don't post them they may help if you want to do a 'write up' afterwards. As you will see from Bob's post such detail is invaluable to those who follow and frequently provides the confidence to others to tackle a seemingly daunting task. :)

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Bobbit on Feb 28^th, 2016, 9:41am

Hi Guys,
Well the old girl is back on the road.
If you are contemplating doing this job make sure you have plenty of patience.
On my car I had to strip the wiring back all the way to the connectors, I ran mine on the abs block, I had 26 wires to strip out, and how it had not caught fire I do not know.
Bobs article was invaluable to me and helped me tackle this job.
The main thing is to take your time and cut and LABEL every wire, making sure non of the labels come of.
I ran my loom the same as Bobs it is a bit tight but it goes in ok.
When I had finished it was a bit daunting when I turned the key for the first time, but Ha Ho it fired up first time ;D
All wires are now shrink wrapped and soldered .
If anyone wants to tackle this job I am available to give advice, I could not take pictures as camera is broken.
I want to thank all you guys and this site for all the invaluable information on here, without it I would not have tackled this job.
Anyone doing this job please take extra care with labeling and double check everything.
Cheers from a very happy ;D
Bob

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by a900one on Feb 28^th, 2016, 1:24pm

Great news that you have got it done. ;)

Title: Re: Battery drain
Post by Simmo on Feb 28^th, 2016, 5:13pm

I have just managed to speak to Bob who wrote the article which gave you the confidence to do the work. He is delighted to have helped!

Ironically his telephone has been out of action for a while and he had just finished renewing the wiring to it and I was his first caller!! ;D How coincidental is that? :o